Caneel Bay

Caneel Bay

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Set on its own peninsula and surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean and Caribbean Sea, Caneel Bay offers seven separate beaches on a 170-acre peninsula and is located in the heart of the 5,000-acre Virgin Islands National Park.

Photo copyright Rosewood Hotels & Resorts.

Overview

Situated on a 170-acre peninsula surrounded by the beauty of the Virgin Island National Park and seven pristine beaches, Caneel Bay is on St. John in the U.S. Virgin Islands. With 3/5 of the island preserved under the national park system, the island remains the least commercial and most low key of the three U.S. Virgin Islands. This tiny Caribbean island getaway is only accessible by boat or ferry. Its beaches are considered to be some of the best in the world. The white sandy beaches shaded by seagrape trees and coconut palms make for a picture-perfect setting for Caribbean destination weddings, resort honeymoons, family gatherings and vacation escapes.

The 5,000-acre Virgin Islands National Park surrounds the resort with spectacular views across the sea to other islands. Quaint shops and restaurants can be found in the nearby town of Cruz Bay. Excursions to St. Thomas or to Little Dix Bay on Virgin Gorda and other destinations can be easily arranged. The resort's kitchens can prepare picnic lunches. Historic Annaberg Plantation's restored sugar mill ruins offer a fascinating insight into the history of the region.

All rooms feature either a patio or balcony and offer breathtaking views of the pristine white beaches or lush tropical gardens.

All guest rooms include sitting area, fully stocked refrigerator/mini-bar, safe, bathrobes and slippers, iron and ironing board, hairdryer and umbrella. There are no telephones or televisions in the individual guest rooms.

Laurance S. Rockefeller "discovered" Caneel Bay in 1952 while sailing in the Caribbean. The total population of the island was only 400, and 85 percent of the island's topography was jungle. He foresaw the perfect vacation spot amid this unspoiled land and purchased the Caneel Bay Plantation. In 1955, he began developing an infrastructure on the island to provide the resort with power, fresh water and roads. He oversaw every detail of the development. He donated the property to Jackson Hole Preserve, a non-profit, conservation-minded foundation supported by the Rockefeller family. The preserve later purchased 5,000 more acres surrounding Caneel Bay and donated the land to the federal government, thus paving the way for the creation of the U.S.V.I. National Park. In 1993, Caneel Bay became a Rosewood Resort.